Aggregates Levy

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of aggregates were (a) quarried and (b) recycled in each of the five years (i) before and (ii) since the introduction of the aggregates levy.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 27 February 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	Quarried and dredged aggregate
	The aggregates levy applies to the whole of the United Kingdom. Data is not available on the amount of aggregate "quarried", or "extracted" because producers keep no such records. Great Britain sales data, sometimes erroneously described as "production", is available from the Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry (AMRI) undertaken by the Office for National Statistics under commission from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Trade and Industry.
	Data on the sales of aggregate in Northern Ireland comes from their Annual Minerals Statement that provides data on all mineral production. Because this data does not provide sufficient detail to enable clear identification of aggregates, the available figures exceed the amounts of aggregate that have been produced. Combining these sources produces the following table:
	
		UK sales of aggregate extracted on land and from the seabed from 1995–2004
		
			 Tonnes million 
			  Great Britain Northern Ireland United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1995 240.5 22.1 262.6 
			 1996 214.9 25.1 240.0 
			 1997 220.2 21.6 241.8 
			 1998 217.7 22.4 240.1 
			 1999 220.8 22.8 243.6 
			 2000 219.5 24.0 243.5 
			 2001 222.0 26.2 248.2 
			 2002 209.3 23.5 232.8 
			 2003 203.7 23.6 227.3 
			 2004 213.8 25.7 239.5 
		
	
	There was a fall in sales between 2001 and 2003 but an increase in 2004. The Office for National Statistics is currently examining the reasons for this. One factor may be an increase in the number of quarries surveyed in the AMRI following a review of, and additions to, the list of quarries that were surveyed.
	Recycled aggregate
	Data on the amount of construction demolition and excavation waste used as aggregate comes from surveys of "Arisings and Use of Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste as Aggregate", commissioned by ODPM. These surveys have collected data for 1999, 2001 and 2003 only. A contract for a 2005 survey has been placed recently but results will not be available until early 2007. Although the 1999 and 2001 surveys included analysis for England and Wales, the 2003 survey covered England. Therefore, the complete time series is for England only. There are no data available for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
	
		Construction demolition and excavation waste crushed and/or screened for use as aggregate in England in 1999, 2001 and 2003
		
			  Tonnes million 
		
		
			 1999 22.0 
			 2001 36.4 
			 2003 39.6

Departmental Energy Costs

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by her Department on (a) gas and (b) electricity in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was created in June 2001.
	The annual spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity at buildings for which Defra its Executive Agencies have contractual responsibility was as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			  Gas Electricity 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,331,589 2,292,248 
			 2002–03 1,337,644 2,583,077 
			 2003–04 1,423,414 2,361,546 
			 2004–05 1,459,602 2,779,828

BBC

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport If she will make a statement on her plans for future funding of the BBC through the licence fee.

Tessa Jowell: As stated in the Green Paper, "A strong BBC, independent of government", published in March 2005, the BBC will continue to be funded by the licence fee for the whole of the next Charter period.
	The Government are currently conducting a funding review to determine the level of the television licence fee to apply from April 2007 and will announce the outcome in due course.

London Olympics

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms are in place to ensure that black and ethnic minority businesses receive a representational proportion of contracts awarded for the 2012 London Olympics.

Richard Caborn: The interim Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is currently developing the ODA's procurement policy which will set out the ODA's policy on supplier diversity. The Government, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency are determined to ensure that London—and UK-based businesses, including minority-led businesses, are able to bid for and be successful in accessing contracting and subcontracting opportunities arising either directly or indirectly as a result of the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games, and are in discussion about a range of programmes to support these businesses.

London Olympics

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the East of England Steering Group for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games regarding the opportunities for Peterborough to play a role in the 2012 London Olympics.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has had no discussions with the East of England Steering Group for the 2012 games.
	However, departmental officials are working with the East of England Steering Group through the Nations and Regions Group to ensure the whole of the UK is engaged with and realises the benefits—economic, social and sporting—from the 2012
	Olympic games and Paralympic games.
	The East of England Steering Group will be producing a plan to ensure the whole of the region, including Peterborough, benefits from the games.

Driving Hours Rules

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of extending road transport drivers' hours rules to cover the drivers of cars being used for business purposes.

Stephen Ladyman: We have made no such assessment. However, the "Driving at- work" guidance for employers published by the Department and the Health and Safety Executive jointly in September 2003 covers such things as the need for company drivers to have realistic schedules and to consider the need for proper rest, especially after a long working day. That guidance is available online at:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf.

Foreign-based Freight Operators

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle and operator services agency lead prosecutions have taken place of (a) UK and (b) foreign-based freight operators over the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table represents UK operators and driver/operators prosecuted by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) from 2001–02 to date. Data prior to this date is not held by VOSA. VOSA does not hold central data on the prosecution of foreign based operators.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 8,692 
			 2002–03 8,718 
			 2003–04 6,830 
			 2004–05 4,927

Haulage Industry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last review of the regulation of the UK's haulage industry was carried out.

Stephen Ladyman: We have recently carried out a review of the goods vehicle operator licensing system and we published a consultation paper—"Modernising Operator Licensing"—on 19 December. This sets out proposals for a streamlined regulatory system for the road haulage industry which would reduce administrative burdens for operators while maintaining safety standards. Copies of the paper are available in the Library. The consultation closes on 31 March.

Haulage Industry

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for the UK haulage industry; and what estimate he has made of the number of commercial haulage operators over the next five years.

Stephen Ladyman: A joint industry and Government task group is considering the issues raised by the "The Burns Report" (published by the Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association), and a number of other important issues that affect the efficiency of the haulage industry.
	The Department has made no estimate of the number of commercial operators over the next five years. However, to help the industry to improve its performance and competitiveness, the Department funds the Freight Best Practice programme (at a cost of around £1 million per annum) to identify areas where best practice exists and disseminate information and guides for haulage industry.

Large Goods Vehicles

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many large goods vehicles not owned by fleets with a British O licence used British roads in 2004–05;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles registered outside the UK using roads in the UK in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 28W, which gave estimates of the number of foreign registered vehicles leaving the UK in each year from 1997 to 2004. Corresponding information is not yet available for 2005 about the number of cars (including minibuses and light goods vehicles), and estimates are not made about the number of coaches. The corresponding 2005 estimate for goods vehicles is 1,614 thousand.

Road Charging

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the introduction of road charging for hauliers based on road usage.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government's position was set out in the Secretary of State's statement to Parliament on the Transport Innovation Fund on 5 July 2005 and the Government's response to the Transport Select Committee's report: "Road Pricing: the Next Steps", published on 20 July 2005.

Road Charging

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he will use to determine the location of initial pilots for road pricing schemes; and what the timescale for implementation is.

Stephen Ladyman: Decisions on the allocations of TIF funds will be taken following appraisal of their business cases against the criteria set out in "Transport Innovation Fund: Guidance January 2006", copies of which were placed in the Library of the House on 26 January 2006.

Road Safety

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in dissuading motorists from using hand-held mobile telephones whilst driving.

Stephen Ladyman: Twice yearly surveys for the Department observe drivers using mobile phones as they pass a number of fixed observation points. Over 100,000 drivers are observed in each survey, conducted on weekdays. The proportion of drivers passing those observation points in the latest published survey while using a hand-held phone was 1.5 per cent. for car drivers and 2.4 per cent. for the drivers of other vehicles. This compares with 1.5 per cent. and 2.3 per cent. in September 2003.
	The most recent published results are contained in TRL's report, Lf 2097, which is available online at
	www.trl.co.uk/store/report_list.asp?pid=211pno=6searchtext=advancedsearch=allwords=submitted=1
	under 'Reports numbered 5158'.

Working Time Directive

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of non-UK registered vehicles are physically checked by (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (b) the police for compliance with hours rules and Working Time Directive regulations over the past five years; and how many and what proportion of these were found not to be in compliance with (i) one and (ii) both sets of regulations.

Stephen Ladyman: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) publish enforcement data annually in their Effectiveness Report which is available on www.vosa.gov.uk and in the House of Commons Library, Business and Transport Section.
	Data is not collected centrally on checks conducted by the police. The Home Office publication of prosecutions for motoring offences gives the prosecutions for certain offences but does not differentiate between UK and non-UK registered vehicles.

EU Membership

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) complete and (b) unfinished studies held within his Department analysing costs and benefits of EU membership.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury routinely considers the wide range of external studies that attempt to assess the economic implications of aspects of EU membership.
	The Government estimate that 3 million jobs in the UK are dependent on trade with the European Union. The Government's February 2005 publication Growth and Opportunity: Prioritising Economic Reform in Europe highlighted the economic benefits of the single market, the costs of remaining barriers to enterprise, competition and trade in the EU, and the importance of economic reform to address these.

Financial Literacy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what initiatives he is supporting to improve financial literacy.

Ivan Lewis: The Government are committed to improving financial education, which is why the Chancellor announced in the 2005 pre Budget report that financial capability would be embedded more explicitly in the schools curriculum by including it in the new functional mathematics component of GCSE mathematics. The Government are also taking steps to strengthen adult financial literacy. Building on the work of Skills for Life it will embed financial capability in functional maths aimed at adults and encourage local authorities to provide more financial education to parents through Sure Start Children's Centres and locally delivered family numeracy activities. In addition the Government will provide information on opportunities for financial education to applicants for Social Fund Budgeting Loans.
	The Government are also very supportive of the FSA led National Strategy for Financial Capability which has identified seven key projects that are considered the most likely to result in a step change in financial capability. The FSA's Financial Capability survey, whose results are due to be published on 28 March, will be important both in defining the levels of financial capability within the general population and for measuring future progress of the strategy.

Insurance (Genetic Testing)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce legislation that would ban insurance firms from using predictive genetic test results to decide premiums; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	The consultation and analysis done by the human genetics commission jointly with the genetics and insurance committee (GAIC) has been used to inform the development of the Government's and insurer's Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics and Insurance, published in March 2005. This document ensures that the use of genetic information by insurance companies will be transparent, fair, and subject to independent oversight. It sets out a range of protections against the use of genetic information by insurers and puts in place until November 2011 a voluntary agreement banning the use by insurers of the results from predictive genetic tests, including tests on breast cancer genes, in deciding the premiums of insurance policies.
	During the moratorium no one will be required to disclose the results of a predictive genetic test unless it has been approved by the GAIC and is for insurance of more than 500,000 for life insurance or 300,000 for other health insurance. To date, the only test that has been approved by GAIC is for Huntington's disease for life insurance polices over 500,000, and no applications for any other tests will be submitted before 2008.
	The current agreement with the insurance industry is flexible enough to respond to fast moving technological and clinical developments in genetic testing. The Government has made clear that any failure of the agreement will lead to the reconsideration of the need for statutory control. Copies of the Concordat are available in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/publications.

Landfill Tax

Paul Keetch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider raising the landfill tax to encourage more local authorities to recycle commercial waste; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Government announced in the pre Budget report that the standard rate of landfill tax will increase by 3 per tonne to 21 per tonne in 200607.
	This increase is consistent with the Government's commitment to increase the standard rate of landfill tax by at least 3 per tonne each year on the way to a rate of 35 per tonne.
	Decisions on future rates of landfill tax will be taken as part of the normal Budget process.

Security Industry

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed in the security industry in (a) Bedfordshire and (b) England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 6 March 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning how many people are employed in the security industry in (a) Bedfordshire (b) England and Wales. I am replying in her absence. (54934).
	The Annual Business Inquiry gives figures of economic activity by industry and can provide a regional analysis of the data. The latest figures available relate to the number of employees at 10 December 2004 and cover the industry group Investigation Activities and Security and Related Activities. We estimate that at that date around 1 thousand people were employed by Bedfordshire firms in that group and around 148 thousand by firms in the same group in England and Wales.

Schools

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been allocated to (a) the Irish-medium and (b) the integrated education sector in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The funding allocated to the Irish-medium education (IME) and integrated education (IE) sectors in each of the last 10 years was as follows:
	
		
			  
			  IME IE 
			  Recurrent Capital Recurrent Capital 
		
		
			 199596 1,789,411 n/k 12,664,806 n/k 
			 199697 1,894,762 n/k 17,216,920 n/k 
			 199798 2,468,490 n/k 22,086,499 12,328,218 
			 199899 3,276,372 n/k 30,133,347 17,090,741 
			 19992000 4,041,534 1,667,584 38,125,242 14,858,040 
			 200001 6,075,876 763,796 42,621,998 10,489,448 
			 200102 6,070,061 140,896 47,286,324 4,968,875 
			 200203 6,730,101 775,717 51,994,494 8,300,843 
			 200304 8,019,913 1,589,219 58,685,121 12,554,731 
			 200405 8,550,337 3,086,106 62,572,458 8,981,840

Asylum Seekers

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Somalian, (b) Ivorian, (c) Pakistani, (d) Algerian and (e) Iranian asylum seekers were (i) granted asylum in the UK and (ii) deported in 200405.

Tony McNulty: The table shows the number of Somalian, Ivorian, Pakistani, Algerian and Iranian asylum seekers granted asylum and deported in the financial year 200405. Information on asylum initial decisions and removals by nationality are published quarterly and annually. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Removals and voluntary departures(25) of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, for nationals of Somalia, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Algeria and Iran, in the financial year 2004052, 3, 4
		
			 Nationality Number of principal applicants 
		
		
			 Somalia 70 
			 Ivory Coast 15 
			 Pakistan 340 
			 Algeria 120 
			 Iran 350 
		
	
	(25) Includes persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.
	(26) Figures rounded to the nearest five.
	(27) Figures exclude dependants of asylum seekers removed.
	(28) Provisional figures.

Cash-in-transit Crime

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into combating cash-in-transit crime.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 January 2006
	The following is the list of research reports published by the Department where cash-in-transit crime has been referred to.
	Preventing robberies at Sub-Post Offices: an evaluation of a security initiative, Paul Ekblom, 1987.
	The prevention of robbery at Building Society branches: Claire Austin, 1988.
	Making Crime Prevention Pay: initiatives from business, John Burrows, 1991.
	Armed Robbery: two police responses, Roger Matthews, 1996.
	Home Office Research Study 182 The Prevention of cheque and credit card fraud revisited: Michael Levi and Jim Handley, 1998.
	Not rocket science? Problem-solving and crime reduction: Tim Read and Nick Tilley, 2000.
	Problem-solving street crime: practical lessons from the Street Crime Initiative: Nick Tilley et al, 2004.

Police

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police authorities that suggested that they would seek federation rather than amalgamation in their response to Closing the Gap; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 31 January 2006
	Of the police authority submissions received in December 2005, four authorities expressed an interest in federated options but did not submit a costed business case for this arrangement. These authorities were: Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire and Sussex.
	In addition to this I have now received a further joint submission from Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wiltshire making the case for a strategic alliance in delivery of services. This option will undergo an assessment of its potential to deliver protective services to the required standard, and a financial assessment.

Yarl's Wood

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many detainees at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, Bedfordshire on 8 November had been detained for (a) up to one week, (b) between one and three weeks, (c) between three and eight weeks and (d) longer than eight weeks;
	(2)  how many detainees at Yarl'sWood Detention Centre on 8 November were children; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office publishes a quarterly snapshot of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. The latest published information pertains to people detained as at 31 December 2005.
	The accompanying table shows the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre as at 31 December 2005 broken down by length of detention and persons recorded as being under 18 on 31 December 2005.
	Additionally, internal management information shows that, as at 9 November 2005, there were 54 children detained with their families at Yarl's Wood. Minors are detained only in two limited circumstances: first, as part of a family group whose detention is considered appropriate; second, when unaccompanied, while alternative care arrangements are made and normally just overnight. While the detention of families with children is very regrettable, it nevertheless remains necessary in appropriate cases in order to maintain an effective immigration control and to tackle abuses of the asylum system. Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available on the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Persons recorded as being in detention at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers as at 31 December 2005, by length of detention (35)(36)
		
			 Number of individuals 
			 Length of detention(37)(38) Total detainees Of whom are minors(39) 
		
		
			 14 days or less 35 10 
			 15 to 29 days 65 15 
			 1 month to less than 2 months 65 5 
			 2 months to less than 3 months 35 5 
			 3 months to less than 4 months 20 * 
			 4 months to less than 6 months 10  
			 6 months to less than 1 year 15  
			 1 year or more *  
			 Total 240 30 
		
	
	(35) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2, may not sum due to rounding and exclude persons detained in police cells and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers.
	(36) Includes persons recorded by IND as detained in Prison Service Establishments.
	(37) Relates to current period of sole detention only.
	(38) Two months is defined as 61 days; four months is defined as 122 days; six months is defined as 182 days.
	(39) People recorded as being under 18 on 31 December 2005.

Jobseeker's Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average time taken to process a claim for jobseeker's allowance was in (a) England and (b) each region in each month from April 2004 to September 2005; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many claims for jobseeker's allowance have been manually processed in each month from April 2004 to September 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning what the average time taken to process a claim to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) was in (a) England (b) each region, in each month from April 2004 to December 2005, and how many claims for JSA have been manually processed. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	(a) The information for England is in the table below.
	(b) The information for each region has been placed in the Library.
	
		Actual average clearance times for claims for jobseeker's allowanceEngland
		
			  Clerical System Total 
			  Total JSA claims cleared in month Actual average clearance time Total JSA claims cleared in month Actual average clearance time Total JSA claims cleared in month Actual average clearance time 
		
		
			 2005   
			 December 3,756 7.2 131,857 15.3 135,613 15.0 
			 November 1,491 24.0 157,613 16.1 159,104 16.2 
			 October 3,445 20.9 147,274 15.9 150,719 16.0 
			 September 3,299 18.4 148,884 15.3 152,183 15.3 
			 August 3,753 15.7 145,949 14.6 149,702 14.7 
			 July 3,784 16.7 148,488 13.9 152,272 14.0 
			 June 3,504 16.7 146,374 13.7 149,878 13.7 
			 May 4,595 14.3 137,000 13.4 141,595 13.5 
			 April 2,848 12.0 147,402 12.9 150,250 12.9 
			 March 2,496 13.9 153,524 13.0 156,020 13.0 
			 February 2,322 13.9 146,879 13.2 149,201 13.2 
			 January 2,885 11.5 152,749 12.7 155,634 12.7 
			
			 2004   
			 December 2,048 14.0 130,712 12.1 132,760 12.1 
			 November 2,275 14.8 144,692 12.7 146,967 12.7 
			 October 2,569 14.9 142,530 12.6 145,099 12.6 
			 September 2,545 14.9 152,695 12.7 155,240 12.7 
			 August 2,179 12.5 146,828 13.2 149,007 13.1 
			 July 2,152 14.6 145,088 12.1 147,240 12.1 
			 June 2,318 14.0 140,312 12.0 142,630 12.0 
			 May 2,345 11.0 131,022 12.2 133,367 12.2 
			 April 2,072 12.7 124,162 11.9 126,234 11.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Central Data Unit for figures up to and including July 2004 and management information systems programme 04(MISP04) from August 2004 to December 2005.
	The Actual Average Clearance Times (AACT) for JSA is measured from the date the customer first contacts Jobcentre Plus to the date the customer is sent a notice of entitlement. The performance of AACT for JSA has increased nationally from 11 days in April 04 to 15 days in December 05. Initial analysis showed that shortfalls in performance in the 'initial contact' part of the process were critical. Delays in contact centres and local service outlets were a contributory factor to the situation as well as the time it can take to gather evidence from third parties before claims can be processed.
	Some of our customers did experience problems getting through to our contact centres over the Summer months. Robust plans were put in place to address this, which resulted in week on week improvements. The most recent performance information for our contact centres shows that in the week ending 3rd February we answered over 94 percent of calls offered.
	To address the issue of fluctuating clearance times in benefit processing a taskforce has developed immediate recovery measures. Building on the taskforce's work, the Jobcentre Plus Chief Operating Officer launched a National Action Plan in the week commencing 30 January. The Action Plan is built around a mandatory series of health checks, taking local managers through the whole end to end process, identifying key risk elements and, where a part of the process fails the health check, directing managers to appropriate good practice products and tool-kits. Regular reviews are undertaken to ensure areas of our business do not fall below expectation. We are already seeing improvements following the introduction of these measures.
	I hope this is helpful.

British Overseas Territories

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to seek provision for the separate representation of British overseas territories at Future World Trade Organisation talks.

Ian Pearson: The British overseas territories (as listed in annex II to the EC Treaty) were consulted between 1991 and 1995 by the United Kingdom when the WTO was being negotiated as to whether they wished to be covered by it. They chose not to do so. Accordingly, the overseas territories have no locus in the WTO and are not represented in WTO talks. Should any UK overseas territory wish to participate in the WTO in the future the UK Government would be happy to assist it in exploring with the WTO the means available to it to do so.

Coal Imports

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal was imported into the UK in 2005; and what the main sources for such imports were in each year since 2000.

Alan Johnson: Provisional figures suggest that 45.1 million tonnes of coal (steam coal, coking coal, and anthracite) were imported into the UK in 2005. Figures for the major sources are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  2005 UK imports of coal (million tonnes) 
		
		
			 Total 45.1 
			 of which:  
			 Russia 17.2 
			 South Africa 13.0 
			 Australia 4.5 
			 Colombia 3.3 
			 Indonesia 1.6 
			 USA 1.4 
			 Canada 1.1 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Revenue and Customs for SITC chapter 32
	Information for earlier years was published in table G.5 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2005.

Equal Pay

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the pay gap between able bodied and disabled workers in (a) Leicester and (b) the UK in each year from 1997 to 2005; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce it.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	This Department has not undertaken any research into the pay gap between disabled and non-disabled workers. However, the Low Pay Commission reports that, in 2004, the pay gap for people with a work-limiting disability was 13 percentage points.
	The employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, as amended and strengthened by this Government, place a duty on an employer not to directly discriminate against a disabled person, or to treat the disabled person less favourably for a reason related to that person's disability, unless this can be justified. The Equal Opportunities Commission's Code of Practice on Equal Pay also makes clear that it is good practice for employers to compare the pay of disabled and non-disabled people doing equal work.
	As a result of a strong economy and active labour market policies, the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people is starting to close. The employment rate for disabled people was 38.1 per cent. in spring 1998, rising to 46.6 per cent. by spring 2005; over the same period, the employment gap fell from 35.1 per cent. to 28 per cent.
	The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report, Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People set out a 20-year strategy to realise our vision of substantive equality for disabled people. This strategy is being driven by a new Office for Disability Issues, which was launched in December 2005.

India (Imports/Exports)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of (a) imports from and (b) exports to India was in (i) goods and (ii) services in each of the last five years; if he will ask the Office for National Statistics to add this data to the monthly trade statistical releases; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is as follows:
	
		UK trade in goods and services with India
		
			  million 
			  Exports Imports 
			  Goods Services Goods Services 
		
		
			 2000 2,058 549 1,651 663 
			 2001 1,797 664 1,825 814 
			 2002 1,755 619 1,794 804 
			 2003 2,293 688 2,088 783 
			 2004 2,237 812 2,276 1,015 
			 2005 2,813 n/a 2,829 n/a 
		
	
	Note:
	Data for 200004 is on a balance of payments basis. No services data is available for 2005 at present and the goods figures for 2005 are on an overseas trade statistics basis.
	Source:
	HM Revenue and Customs and Office for National Statistics (Pink Book).
	This data is available in the ONS's Pink Book published annually, and from HM Revenue and Customs.
	There has been excellent growth in bilateral trade and investment between the UK and India over recent years with data to October 2005 indicating a 29.4 per cent. increase in exports to India compared to the same period in 2004. The UK is the fifth biggest investor in India with UK companies involved in 9.8 per cent. of all new FBI into India since 1991.
	The UK Government is committed to furthering UK trade and investment opportunities with India through the Prime Minister's Initiative and through JETCO, the UK-India Joint-Economic and Trade Committee. Under JETCO, business to business working groups, supported by both Governments, are working to identify opportunities and remove barriers to trade and investment in both the UK and India. UK Trade and Investment's team in India is its second biggest globally, after the USA.

Lesotho

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of (a) exports to and (b) imports from Lesotho in each of the past 20 years at current prices.

Alan Johnson: Information on the UK's trade in goods with Lesotho from 1986 to 2005 is shown in the table below.
	
		
			million 
			  UK exports to Lesotho UK imports from Lesotho 
		
		
			 1986 2.128 0.276 
			 1987 1.111 0.485 
			 1988 1.260 0.977 
			 1989 0.795 0.734 
			 1990 0.642 1.288 
			 1991 3.258 2.799 
			 1992 2.725 4.159 
			 1993 0.908 2.343 
			 1994 0.665 1.605 
			 1995 1.324 0.399 
			 1996 1.864 0.060 
			 1997 4.847 0.105 
			 1998 1.041 0.015 
			 1999 0.755 0.000 
			 2000 0.313 0.828 
			 2001 1.941 1.883 
			 2002 1.048 1.116 
			 2003 0.202 0.516 
			 2004 0.190 0.262 
			 2005 0.511 0.304 
		
	
	Note:
	2005 figures are subject to revision.
	Source:
	Overseas Trade Statistics

Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policies his Department has adopted to assist the United Kingdom's fulfilment of the Lisbon Agenda criteria.

Ian Pearson: The Government strongly support the renewed Lisbon focus on jobs and growth as the best way to meet the challenges of globalisation and boost prosperity and living standards for all. The UK National Reform Programme details our policy response to these challenges. The Department of Trade and Industry is driving forward micro-economic reforms in areas such as competition, enterprise, science and innovation, skills and investment.
	We expect the spring Council in March to emphasise the importance of implementation of national commitments to reform.

Arm's Length Organisations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) value and (b) repayment date is of each loan provided by his Department to arm's length management organisations in London.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not provide loans to arm's length management organisations (ALMOs).
	The ODPM's financial support for local authorities takes the form of supported borrowing approvals. The allocations for local authorities with ALMOs in London are tabled as follows.
	
		
			million 
			  ALMO allocation 
			 Authority 200204 200406 
		
		
			 Round 1   
			 Hounslow 35.0 64.7 
			 Westminster 20.3 53.7 
		
	
	
		
			million 
			  ALMO allocation 
			  200305 200507 
		
		
			 Round 2   
			 Brent 33.8 20.2 
			 Hillingdon 16.6 31.4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 21.7 21.7 
		
	
	
		
			million 
			  ALMO allocation 
			  200406 200608 
		
		
			 Round 3   
			 Barnet 19 29.9 
			 Islington 24.9 59.6 
		
	
	
		
			 200507 ALMO allocation ( million) 
		
		
			 Round 4  
			 Brent (partial) 14.0 
			 Ealing 64.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 78.1 
		
	
	
		
			 200608 ALMO allocation ( million) 
		
		
			 Round 5  
			 Hackney(43) 88.980 
			 Lambeth (part)(43) 8.589 
			 Newham(43) 78.113 
		
	
	(43) Allocation subject to the local authority receiving the Secretary of State's consent to delegate its housing management functions to its ALMO and the ALMO receiving at least a two star rating from the Housing Inspectorate.
	These approvals give permission for a local authority to borrow money to fund capital expenditure on its stock. Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Subsidy is paid to local authorities by ODPM to cover the interest payments that a local authority must make on this borrowing. The terms of the loans taken out by local authorities with ALMOs are a matter for the individual local authorities.

Brownfield Sites

Stephen Byers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will re-define the term brownfield site to exclude gardens of residential homes.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 27 February 2006
	Draft Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing (PPS3), published for consultation in December 2005, does not propose a change in the definition of brownfield land, residential gardens have been included as brownfield land since 1985. However as draft PPS3 emphasises, this does not necessarily mean that they are suitable for development.
	The consultation period for responses to draft PPS3 closed on 27 February. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider any consultation responses on this matter when finalising PPS3.

Energy Costs

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on (a) gas and (b) electricity in 200405.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The cost of electricity and gas used in the properties occupied by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and its agencies in 200405 are as follows:
	
		
			
			  Gas Electricity 
		
		
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister(45) 121,855 526,517 
			 Agencies 264,168 715,145 
			 Total 386,023 1,241,662 
		
	
	(45) Excluding Government Offices.
	This answer does not include figures for 26 Whitehall, which is managed by the Cabinet Office, and for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister pays an agreed proportion of the cost of all services supplied by the Cabinet Office.
	This answer also does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices, which carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Cyprus

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have visited Cyprus in each of the last nine years.

Douglas Alexander: The following Ministers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have visited Cyprus over the last nine years: my right hon. Friend Joyce Quinn in 1999, my hon. Friend Keith Vaz in 2001, my right hon. Friend Peter Hain in 2002, my right hon. Friend Dennis MacShane in 2004, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in 2006. Government Ministers from other Government Departments have also visited the island. There have been a great many visits by officials during this period.

Internet Censorship Abroad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on internet censorship abroad; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts at the United Nations on the subject.

Ian Pearson: We have received a number of representations from civil society organisations on restrictions on freedom of expression on the Internet in a number of countries, for example in the lead-up to the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia in November 2005. The Government has also recently expressed disappointment at the hard line the Chinese Government takes on limiting freedom of expression and information. We believe both are essential to the development of a modern, stable and sustainable society.
	The WSIS general preamble (The Tunis Commitment), to which all UN member States signed up, is a reaffirmation of human rights and freedom of expression. This explicitly recognises that freedom of expression and the free flow of information, ideas, and knowledge, are essential for the Information Society. Member States also agreed the more detailed Tunis Agenda, which reaffirms the freedom to seek, receive, impart and use information and the need to respect freedom of expression when taking measures to ensure Internet security.

Arms Manufacturers (Promotions)

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps he has undertaken to promote UK arms manufacturers.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Industrial Strategy underlined the benefits to defence from responsible defence exports. Ministers therefore regularly support export promotion activities. For example, at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition, held in London last autumn, Defence Ministers attended a number of events and supported UK companies. My noble Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement, who has responsibility for defence exports, has in recent months supported UK exporters at defence exhibitions in Turkey and India.

Chemical Defence Establishment

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on whose authority the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down collaborated with (a) Walter Basson and (b) Roodeplaat Research Laboratory on chemical biological weapon research during the period of the apartheid government in South Africa; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what (a) collaboration and (b) contact took place between scientists and officials employed by or at (i) the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down and (ii) other institutions funded by Her Majesty's Government and Walter Basson of South Africa; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what (a) collaboration and (b) contact took place between scientists and officials employed by or at (i) the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down and (ii) other institutions funded by the Government, with the Roodeplaat Research Laboratory of South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There is no record of collaboration between the Ministry of Defence officials and either Wouter Basson or the Roodeplaat Research Laboratory, nor is there any record of contact between Ministry of Defence officials and the Roodeplaat Research Laboratory.
	In March 1995, there was a visit to the new South African Government of National Unity. The cross-government visit included a scientist form the Chemical Biological Defence Establishment, and provided advice to South Africa on her international treaty obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Two official meetings involved the South African Surgeon General; as a member of his staff, Wouter Basson was present.
	I am not in a position to comment of the activities of Her Majesty Government funded institutions outside the Ministry of Defence.

Drug Taking

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been a change in the policy of dismissing service personnel for taking class A drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: There is no change in policy. Most Service personnel who take drugs illegally-whatever the class of drugswill be discharged. There is discretion to retain individuals exceptionally, however, and this may be made subject to satisfactory completion of a drugs intervention programme.

Parliamentary Questions

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to give substantive answers to Questions (a) 48822, tabled for named day answer on 8 February 2006, and (b) 50184, tabled for named day answer on 13 February 2006, by the hon. Member for New Forest East.

Adam Ingram: Question 48822 requires input from various sources and the correlation of data that is not easily accessible. I expect to reply to the hon. Member as soon as officials have completed the necessary work.
	I replied to the hon. Member today in respect of question 50184.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's funding of remedial care for ex-Service personnel with post traumatic stress disorder and related conditions was at facilities provided by the charity Combat Stress in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Article 26 of the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983 provides that the Secretary of State for Defence may defray necessary expenses in respect of the medical, surgical or rehabilitative treatment of former member of the Armed Forces which arise from a disablement due to service, provided they are not provided for under other UK legislation. Under this discretionary power, MOD defrays the individual costs of war pensioners undergoing remedial treatment at the Combat Stress homes for conditions related to their individual pensioned disablement and of related expenses, such as travel costs. The table shows the funding received by Combat Stress under this provision.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200102 2.1 
			 200203 2.4 
			 200304 2.6 
			 200405 2.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Ex-Services mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress)

Thermobaric and Air/Fuel Weapons

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned on (i) thermobaric and (ii) air fuel weapons in the past five years.

Adam Ingram: The term thermobaric has no agreed definition and is not used by the Ministry of Defence. The Department conducts or commissions research aimed at developing a scientific and military understanding of all appropriate weapon technologies. The knowledge generated is employed to assess the threat to UK Forces posed by these technologies, to consider appropriate countermeasures and to assess their potential applicability for use in our own weapon systems.
	In the case of fuel air weapons MOD commissioned research tasks aimed at improving our scientific understanding and ability to model the critical parameters and effects of fuel air systems in order to undertake a more detailed analysis of the potential threat they represent. Research into Force Protection engineering measures conducted during the course of the last five years has taken fuel air weapons into account as one of the potential threats.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her reply of 8 February 2006, Official Report, column 1304W, on abortion, on what grounds each abortion was performed; and what the (a) age of the woman, (b) gestation of the pregnancy and (c) prison at which the abortion was performed was in each case.

Caroline Flint: The information for age and gestation is shown in the table. The majority of the abortions were performed under Section l(l) (a) 1 of the Abortion Act 1967 and under the act, treatment for termination of pregnancy can only be carried out in a national health service hospital or an approved independent sector place.
	For confidentiality reasons, we are unable to release any further data.
	1 that the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing children of her family.
	
		Age and gestation period of women having terminations giving a prison postcode as their place of residence, England, 1995 to 2004
		
			  Number 
			 Age  
		
		
			 20 and under 12 
			 2123 12 
			 2425 10 
			 26 11 
			 2731 15 
			 32 and over 13 
			 Total 73 
			   
			 Gestation weeks  
			 Under 10 11 
			 10 to 12 31 
			 13 plus 31 
			 Total 73

Cerebral Palsy

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in (a) the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority area and (b) the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership area have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy in the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authorityall diagnoses count of patients for cerebral palsy
		
			  Patient counts 
		
		
			 200001 254 
			 200102 276 
			 200203 311 
			 200304 350 
			 200405 317 
		
	
	
		North Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT) and South Peterborough PCT
		
			  Patient counts 
		
		
			 200001 37 
			 200102 41 
			 200203 36 
			 200304 59 
			 200405 51 
		
	
	Notes:
	General
	All diagnoses of patients for cerebral palsy (ICD-10 G80 infantile cerebral palsy).
	Age of start of episodes = under 17.
	Patient counts
	Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier Hospital Episodes Statistics identification HESID. This identifier is derived based on the patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and national health service number using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	All diagnoses count of patients
	These figures represent a count of all patients where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in a HES record.
	Diagnosis (primary diagnosis)
	The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	Secondary diagnoses
	As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 13 (six prior to 200203) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.
	PCT, SHA data quality
	PCT and SHA data was added to historic data years in the HES database using 200203 boundaries, as a one off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on the PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment is poor in 199697, 199798 and 199899, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 199787 and 199899 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.
	Ungrossed Data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls, that is the data is ungrossed.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green of 9 November 2005 on the Whittington Hospital.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 1 March 2006
	A response was sent to the hon. Member on 8 February.

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which categories of dentists were involved in her calculation of the average income of dentists under the new dental contract; and how many such dentists were included in her calculation.

Rosie Winterton: The historical estimates of average earnings and expenses for dentists are calculated by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre, based on data on gross fees and payments from the Dental Practice Board (DPB) and data from HM Revenue and Customs on expenses.
	DPB payment data shows that on average, a dentist with a reasonable National Health Service commitment in 200405 in the general dental services (CDS) received gross CDS income of about 154,350. At 200506 remuneration levels, this would be a gross CDS income of around 159,600. Dentists with a reasonable commitment are defined as those with gross fee earnings of 59,100 or more. These averages covered some 7,640 CDS principal dentists who worked throughout the year 200405.
	HM Revenue and Customs information from dentists1 tax returns show that the average ratio of expenses to gross earnings for a highly committed NHS dentist is around 52 per cent. (200304 tax year). The same source gives average net income of a highly committed NHS dentist from all sources as 78,600 in the tax year 200304, which would equate to an average of about 83,500 in 200506. This information is taken from the tax returns of 392 GDS principal dentists who were in non-associate business arrangements for whom the tax year ended between January and March 2004. Based on the data available from these sources, the Department estimates that a highly committed NHS dentist has an average income of around 80,000 in 200506.

Health Expenditure

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the percentage of an average lifetime's health expenditure which is incurred in the last year of life.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 13 February 2006
	In his final report on Securing our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View published April 2002, Sir Derek Wanless said that 'on average, around a quarter of all the healthcare someone consumes in their lifetime is consumed in the last year of their life'.

Hospital Management Frameworks

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  by what date NHS trusts will be asked to complete a third hospital management framework self-assessment:
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with strategic health authorities about the hospital medicines management framework self-assessment responses.

Jane Kennedy: The need for a third medicines management framework will be reviewed in the light of the report of the Healthcare Commission on medicines management in national health service hospitals.
	Departmental officials meet regularly with strategic health authority (SHA) pharmaceutical leads to discuss a wide range of issues including medicines management.
	The Department has facilitated feedback from the self-assessments, which were returned to the SHAs, to the Healthcare Commission so that the learning can be incorporated into their audit of medicines management, the report from which is due to be published in summer 2006.

NHS Campuses (Learning Disability)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the decision not to include the proposal to close NHS campuses for people with a learning disability in the easy-read version of the White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say.

Liam Byrne: The easy-read version of the White Paper focuses on the issues that will be relevant to most people. It was intended to be a short summary document, which concentrates on the key themes of health and well-being; choice and putting people in control; access to services; and meeting the individual needs of people with long-term conditions.

PET Scanners

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of PET scanners for the diagnostic investigation of people with cancer.

Rosie Winterton: The National Framework for the Development of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Services in England published in October 2005 recommended that 46,000 scans should be made available over the next three to five years. 40,000 of these will be for the benefit of cancer patients.
	Therefore, an additional 20 million capital funding has been made available over the next two years (200608) to support the development of this service. In addition a further 25,000 scans per year will be made available from the independent sector over the next five years to support the National Health Service.

Prescription Charges

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discretion her Department has to waive penalty charges imposed where a patient has incorrectly claimed an exemption from prescription charges.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 March 2006
	The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) have issued detailed penalty charge guidance to ensure that primary care trusts can administer penalties consistently and in accordance with the law. This guidance, which can be found on their website at www.cfsms.nhs.uk/files.Penalty%20Charge%20Guidance.pdf explains the two provisions in the penalty charge legislation, which permit responsible authorities in exceptional cases to recover just the unpaid national health service costs and waive a penalty charge.
	Firstly, A Defence under the Legislation where the patient can show that they did not act wrongfully, or with any lack of care and secondly, an Administrative Easement where the personal circumstances are such that issuing a penalty notice may be deemed as inappropriate. Examples of this include patients suffering from a terminal illness or who are in residential care.

Residential Care Costs

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in England receiving residential care pay (a) all the cost of such care and (b) part of the cost themselves;
	(2)  how many people in England receiving residential care have the cost of the care paid for them by the National Health Service.

Liam Byrne: Holding answers issued 2 March 2006
	At 31 March 2005, there were 267,200 adults, aged 18 and over, supported in care homes by councils with social service responsibilities (CSSRs) in England. A breakdown of the number of clients who are partially funded and those who are fully funded by CSSRs is not centrally available.
	Data from the independent market analysts Laing and Buission suggests there are some 15,000 to 20,000 National Health Service funded residents and over 100,000 privately funded residents.

Supercentre Sterile Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has in place to allow fair competition and innovation to continue when supercentre contracts for sterile services are developed.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 February 2006
	We are committed to a mixed economy in decontamination in the National Health Service. NHS trusts may choose to redevelop their own services to meet the national standards, they may obtain the service from private contractors by market testing, they may obtain the service as part of a larger private finance initiative project or they may join with other NHS bodies to redevelop the service by means of a joint venture with a private sector service provider.
	We estimate that about 100 NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts will choose to participate in joint ventures with the remainder choosing one of the other options.
	Each super centre will have a joint venture management board (JVMB) and an instrument review committee (IRG) made up of NHS personnel who will regularly review the performance of the service provider and work in partnership to discuss requirements and maintain innovation.
	The IRC and JVMB will also be responsible for specifying requirements and benchmarking arrangements to ensure fair competition and best value in terms of both quality and price.
	The decisions on procurement routes and products will be determined at local level by the JVMB and the IRC. It is our intention to support both markets by ensuring that agreements are in place that reflect the changing requirements of the NHS, whilst providing opportunities for innovation through competition.
	There are currently a number of national framework agreements in place for products associated with decontamination, some of which are provided through the NHS Logistics Authority. These are available to third parties procuring on behalf of the NHS as well as to the NHS itself.

Insurance (Genetic Testing)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of research undertaken jointly by the Human Genetics Committee and the Genetics and Insurance Committee on the use of genetic information by the insurance industry, which was due for completion in 2005;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the temporary ban, voluntarily agreed between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on insurers requesting the results of predictive genetic tests on breast cancer genes.

Jane Kennedy: The consultation and analysis done by the human genetics commission jointly with the genetics and insurance committee (GAIC) has been used to inform the development of the Government's and insurer's Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics and Insurance, published in March 2005. This document ensures that the use of genetic information by insurance companies will be transparent, fair, and subject to independent oversight. It sets out a range of protections against the use of genetic information by insurers and puts in place until November 2011 a voluntary agreement banning the use by insurers of the results from predictive genetic tests, including tests on breast cancer genes, in deciding the premiums of insurance policies.
	During the moratorium no one will be required to disclose the results of a predictive genetic test unless it has been approved by the GAIC and is for insurance of more than 500,000 for life insurance or 300,000 for other health insurance. To date, the only test that has been approved by GAIC is for Huntington's disease for life insurance polices over 500,000, and no applications for any other tests will be submitted before 2008.
	The current agreement with the insurance industry is flexible enough to respond to fast moving technological and clinical developments in genetic testing. The Government has made clear that any failure of the agreement will lead to the reconsideration of the need for statutory control. Copies of the Concordat are available in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/publications.

Class Sizes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the size of each class is in each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in Haltemprice and Howden.

Jacqui Smith: Information on class sizes in primary and secondary schools in Haltemprice and Howden is shown in the following table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(50): Average class size(51)(52)January 2005Haltemprice and Howden parliamentary constituency
		
			 URN School name Number of classes Number of pupils in classes Average class size 
		
		
			 Primary schools 
			 117824 Barmby-on-the-Marsh Primary School 1 16 16.0 
			 117841 Eastrington Primary School 6 127 21.2 
			 117842 Brough Primary School 14 366 26.1 
			 117844 Gilberdyke Primary School 10 256 25.6 
			 117845 Anlaby Junior School 10 272 27.2 
			 117846 Hallgate Junior School 8 232 29.0 
			 117847 Hallgate Infant School 6 154 25.7 
			 117850 Willerby Carr Lane Junior School 12 349 29.1 
			 117852 Holme-upon-Spalding Moor Primary School 11 314 28.5 
			 117854 Howden Junior School 8 188 23.5 
			 117859 Newbald Primary School 4 69 17.3 
			 117860 Newport Primary School 5 132 26.4 
			 117868 Welton Primary School 7 183 26.1 
			 117874 Cottingham Croxby Primary School 10 284 28.4 
			 117875 Cottingham Bacon Garth Primary School 6 146 24.3 
			 117877 Anlaby Infant School 6 170 28.3 
			 117878 Bubwith Community Primary School 3 80 26.7 
			 117881 Kirk Ella St. Andrew's Community Primary School 21 586 27.9 
			 117883 Westfield Primary School 14 380 27.1 
			 117884 Swanland Primary School 14 408 29.1 
			 117885 Springhead Primary School 7 150 21.4 
			 117887 Willerby Carr Lane Infant School 9 226 25.1 
			 117888 Anlaby Acre Heads Primary School 12 336 28.0 
			 117891 Elloughton Primary School 11 289 26.3 
			 117984 North Cave Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 5 114 22.8 
			 117985 North Ferriby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 11 289 26.3 
			 117990 Little Weighton Rowley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 4 78 19.5 
			 117992 Skidby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 4 81 20.3 
			 118003 South Cave Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School 15 397 26.5 
			 118055 St. Thomas More RC Primary School 4 129 32.3 
			 118121 Howden Church of England Infant School 7 179 25.6 
			  
			 Secondary Schools 
			 118077 South Hunsley School 79 1,716 21.7 
			 118079 Cottingham High School 70 1,513 21.6 
			 118083 Wolfreton School 91 1,895 20.8 
			 118084 Howden School and Technology College 34 719 21.1 
			 118106 Sydney Smith School 59 1,544 26.2 
		
	
	(50) Includes middle schools as deemed
	(51) One teacher classes
	(52) Classes as taught during one selected period on the day of the census in January

Head Teachers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the average salary paid to head teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools was in each year since 1995;
	(2)  what the average age of head teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools was in each year since 1995;
	(3)  how many head teachers (a) retired and (b) were appointed in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1995;
	(4)  what the average salary of head teachers was in 200405, broken down by region.

Jacqui Smith: As a result of the data issues explained in my response to the hon. Member's question of 31 January on the publication Statistics of Education: The School Workforce in England, the most recent data currently available are for March 2003, (except for retirements) which are available for 2004. The figures provided for 2001 onwards are the best currently available but may be revised following further analysis. Any revisions will be made available on the Research and Statistics Gateway 1 . The available data are shown in the tables.
	Information on the average salary of head teachers by region is not currently available.
	1 The Research and Statistics Gateway is the web portal that provides access to all DfES statistics, it can be found at the following address: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/
	The following table provides the average salary and average age of full-time regular qualified head teachers employed in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England, March 1995 to March 2003, the latest information available.
	
		Average salary and average age of full-time regular qualified head teachers in the maintained schools sector in England, March 1995 to March 2003
		
			  Nursery/primary Secondary 
			  Mean salary () Mean age Mean salary () Mean age 
		
		
			 1995 28,000 47.7 38,500 49.3 
			 1996 28,900 47.9 39,800 49.3 
			 1997 30,100 48.0 41,500 49.4 
			 1998 31,100 48.0 43,100 49.3 
			 1999 32,500 48.4 44,900 49.7 
			 2000 35,100 48.9 48,200 50.1 
			 2001 37,300 49.1 50,800 50.1 
			 2002 39,400 49.4 54,000 50.3 
			 2003 41,700 49.6 57,500 50.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records
	Average salaries are rounded to the nearest 100.
	Schools and local authorities have flexibility to award recruitment and retention incentives and are able to set a head teacher's salary above the top of the pay spine.
	The following table provides the number of head teachers who retired and the number of teachers promoted to head teacher in each year from 199596 to 200304, the latest information available.
	
		Head teacher retirement awards and promotions in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England, (financial years)
		
			  Nursery/primary Secondary 
			  Retirement awards(58) Promotions(59) Retirement awards(58) Promotions(59) 
		
		
			 199596 1,080 1,710 300 390 
			 199697 1,370 1,860 300 450 
			 199798(60) 1,360 2,120 360 530 
			 199899 550 1,440 200 410 
			 19992000 600 1,810 170 420 
			 200001(61) 1,030 1,810 270 680 
			 200102 870 1,690 240 490 
			 200203 790 1,490 240 460 
			 200304 880 n/a 200 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(58) Includes teachers whose last day of service may have been some years earlier than the retirement award date.
	(59) Promotions exclude teachers who were not previously in service or in service outside of the maintained sector.
	(60) The effect of the change in the Teachers' Pensions Scheme as from 31 August 1997 was that many more teachers took early retirement in 199697 and 199798 than in previous and subsequent years.
	(61) Standards Fund money was made available in 200001 and 200002 to support early retirement scheme specifically aimed at head teachers.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records and Pensioner Statistics Database

List 99

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individuals whose names have been removed from (a) List 99 and (b) the Protection of Children Act List in each of the last four years have subsequently been employed in the provision of childcare in any regulated setting from birth to entry to school.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 31 January 2006
	Employment decisions are a matter for individual employers. Departmental guidance 'Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service' gives comprehensive advice on the full range of pre-employment checks that need to be undertaken before employing an individual including obtaining CRB checks. Employers must make a judgment on the suitability of the applicant in hand. CRB checks are mandatory for all those working in regulated child care settings and for all newly appointed teachers.
	Any individual who appears on list 99 or the POCA List (other than provisionally) on the grounds of unsuitability to work with children is barred from working in a regulated position within the meaning of section 36 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 which includes a position where normal duties include caring for, training, supervising or being in charge of children.

School Results

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 11-year-olds attending (a) faith schools and (b) other maintained schools achieved (i) level 4 and (ii) level 5 in (A) English, (B) mathematics, (C) science, (D) reading, (E) writing, (F) reading and writing and (G) reading, writing and mathematics in each year since 1996.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Figures for 2005 have been provided as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage pupils achieving level 4 or above 
			   Faith schools Other maintained schools 
		
		
			 English 84 77 
			 Maths 80 73 
			 Science 90 85 
			 Reading 89 83 
			 Writing 69 61 
			 Reading and writing 68 59 
			 Reading, writing and maths 63 54 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage pupils achieving level 5 or above 
			   Faith schools Other maintained schools 
		
		
			 English 31 24 
			 Maths 35 28 
			 Science 52 44 
			 Reading 49 39 
			 Writing 18 14 
			 Reading and writing 16 12 
			 Reading, writing and maths 11 8 
		
	
	Note:
	Only LA maintained schools whose results are published in the Achievement and Attainment Tables are included in this analysis.

School Results

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 11 year olds in receipt of free school meals attending (a) faith schools and (b) other maintained schools achieved (i) level 4 and (ii) level 5 in (A) English, (B) mathematics, (C) science, (D) reading, (E) writing, (F) reading and writing and (G) reading, writing and mathematics in each year since 1996.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Figures for 2005 have been provided as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage pupils in receipt of FSM achieving level 4 or above 
			   Faith schools Other maintained schools 
		
		
			 English 67 59 
			 Maths 62 55 
			 Science 77 71 
			 Reading 75 67 
			 Writing 50 43 
			 Reading and writing 48 41 
			 Reading, writing and maths 41 34 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage pupils in receipt of FSM achieving level 5 
			   Faith schools Other maintained schools 
		
		
			 English 14 10 
			 Maths 16 13 
			 Science 29 25 
			 Reading 26 20 
			 Writing 8 6 
			 Reading and writing 6 5 
			 Reading, writing and maths 4 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Only LA maintained schools whose results are published in the Achievement and Attainment Tables are included in this analysis.
	2. The free school meal information is gathered through the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) in January 2005.

Sex Offenders

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether registered sex offenders have been approved by her Department to work in Reading local education authority schools.

Ruth Kelly: My Department does not' approve' people to work in schools.
	My statement, and the accompanying report, of 19 January set out clearly the Government's analysis of, and response to, issues concerning child protection and List 99, together with the action we are currently taking.

Traveller Children (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on education provision for traveller children in West Lancashire.

Jacqui Smith: We are concerned that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils are amongst the lowest achieving in our schools. In 2003 the Government launched a national strategy to tackle the underachievement of minority ethnic pupils. This included a range of initiatives aimed at supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people, including a national pilot project testing strategies to improve attendance and raise attainment.
	The findings from this pilot have informed the development of a national programme of work to support local authorities and schools with large numbers of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils to better meet their needs. This will be launched in April 2006 and follows up a commitment we made in the schools White Paper.

Truancy

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost has been of her Department's campaigns designed to reduce truancy since 1997.

John Smith: Truancy is one of several reasons why a child may be absent from school without authorisation. My Department has spent the following on measures aimed solely at reducing absence from schools:
	11.25 million to help 530 secondary schools which had higher than average rates of unauthorised absence to purchase electronic registration systems;
	0.8 million on advisers working within the National Strategies to provide support to local authorities on their attendance strategies;
	0.3 million on eight advisers seconded from local authorities to the Department to work with 60 local authorities with high levels of unauthorised absence; and
	0.2 million on events for local authorities to share effective practice on attendance management.
	In addition to these specific measures my Department has funded other initiatives such as the Behaviour Improvement Programme which have had, as part of their overall objectives, the reduction of absence and truancy.